300 Bison Were Released In Oklahoma In 1993, And Now More Than 2,000 Roam The Prairie

Key Points:

• In 1993, 300 bison were donated to northeastern Oklahoma's Joseph H. Williams Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, and the herd has since grown to over 2,000 animals roaming tens of thousands of acres of the largest protected tallgrass prairie on Earth.
• The preserve uses a management strategy combining prescribed burns and bison grazing to mimic natural cycles that maintain prairie diversity, with bison selectively grazing on grass and allowing wildflowers and other plants to thrive.
• The preserve now supports more than 750 plant species and over 300 bird species, highlighting the importance of restoring tallgrass prairie ecosystems that have largely vanished due to agriculture and development.
• A 30-year study at Kansas State University's Konza Prairie Biological Station showed that bison grazing doubles plant biodiversity compared to ungrazed prairie and surpasses the biodiversity benefits of cattle grazing, even during severe drought conditions.
• Researchers conclude that reintroducing bison to grasslands across the central Great Plains can significantly restore plant diversity lost after bison were wiped out, aiding ecosystem recovery where practical.